Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category

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Come together and save money this Christmas!

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

For many, the festive season is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s when we take a break from work, spend quality time with our family and friends and show them just how much we care.  Unfortunately, due to the economic climate we might not be able to spend as much as we’d like this Christmas, but fear not, we’ve put together this short guide on how to make the most out of this Christmas without breaking the bank…

Stay in touch

If you’re not able to visit certain family members this festive period make sure you stay in touch. A great way to do this is the humble greetings card. This simple, traditional gesture will let your loved ones know that you’re thinking about them this Christmas, even if you don’t get to see them. This Christmas you can save money on your greetings cards with this Hallmark.co.uk voucher code,which entitles you to 25% off personalised cards.

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Make your own…

Christmas is the perfect time to get creative. There are so many products that people buy over the Christmas period that you could make yourself for a fraction of the price. Advent calendars are a prime example- make your own with some card and some miniature chocolates (or without if you haven’t got a sweet tooth).

Another item that is on near enough everyone’s Christmas shopping list is chocolates. Why not make your own truffles? For basic truffles you only need two ingredients; chocolate and cream. It’s then up to you how you flavour them. All you need is some quality dark chocolate, some whipping cream and whichever other ingredients tickle your fancy for flavour and decoration. Pop them in some festive boxes and use as gifts, or keep them in the fridge for the family.

Another fun and frugal activity for Christmas is to make your own decorations. Don’t spend a fortune on Christmas decorations, make your own.  All you need is some coloured paper or card, glue, scissors and some creativity. You could also buy a pack of plain baubles and some glitter pens and decorate them yourself for fun, personalised Christmas tree decorations.

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Secret Santa

If you have a large family or a large group of friends, why not do Secret Santa? This means that you won’t have to pay out for individual gifts which will save you time and a substantial amount of money. Draw names out of a hat and choose a spend limit that ensures that you can buy a good gift which is affordable. You can then organise a time which is suitable for everyone to exchange gifts, which is a fantastic excuse to get together for a festive catch-up.

Shop online

Does the thought of queuing up in packed shops fill you with dread? It might be time to start shopping online. Not only will you be able to shop from the comfort of your own home, you’ll save hours of your time, meaning you can spend it with your family instead. You’re also less likely to impulse buy like you would at the shops; there are no glittery displays to attract your attention, so you’re more inclined to stick to your list and not overspend.

Shopping online has other advantages too, such as getting your shopping delivered straight to your front door. You won’t have to carry heavy shopping bags around busy high streets. You can usually pick a time that’s good for you to get your shopping delivered too, making online shopping even more convenient.

Another advantage of online shopping is that you can make some fantastic savings. Many online retailers offer discount codes to use at the checkout which can get you money off your purchase, free delivery or a 2 for 1 offer.

Stay in

Christmas nights out can be expensive; not only do taxi fares and entrance fees increase but it’s likely to be very busy and not to mention frosty outside. Staying in is certainly the new going out and can cost next to nothing. Invite your family and friends to your house to watch Christmas films, play board games and get into the spirit of Christmas. With the new wave of movement sensitive games consoles like the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Move and the Xbox Kinect, there is hours of fun to be had by playing sing/dance-a-long, sports and puzzle games. These games are usually suitable for the whole family and can really give your big night in the edge.  Alternatively dig out the old family favourites like Monopoly, Cluedo or just a deck of playing cards and enjoy some traditional family-friendly entertainment.

Written by Rachael from the voucher codes team at MoneySupermarket.com.

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Art Stars: Top tips for creating the perfect Christmas card…

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

 

 

Win the chance to get your designs printed and sold online and in stores in time for Christmas!

Have you heard about the launch of Art Stars – the brand new Daybreak competition? If you don’t know already, they are giving young art enthusiasts across the UK, the chance to turn their mantel masterpieces into a real Hallmark card sold through hallmark.co.uk and Hallmark stores this Christmas!

That’s right, ITV’s Daybreak are calling for talented young artists between the ages of 7-14 to get creative and design a Christmas card with a verse or greeting inside based on the theme ‘What Christmas means to me’.

But hurry, the competition closes this coming Monday, 17th of October at 8pm!

So, can’t wait to enter but looking for a bit of inspiration to kick start your creativity? Simply take a look at our top tips for helpful hints with your entry:-

1. Tell us a story! Sticking to the theme of the competition, Daybreak wants you to tell them what Christmas means to you.  Think about what makes your Christmases special and try to incorporate this into your designs.

2. Get inspired! Before you get started, be sure to check out our Christmas card section on the Hallmark website for festive ideas and inspiration for your designs. (Be careful though, no copying! We’re looking for the most inventive and original designs.)

3. Think Happy! Giles Andreae, the creator of Purple Ronnie says: “Make sure your cards are fun, bright and full of joy. Christmas is a happy time of year so we like to celebrate with lots of bright colours and cheerful words and illustrations!” To see Giles’s Purple Ronnie lesson, simply click here.

4. Keep it simple! Remember not to stick anything onto your card. Sequins and sparkles look pretty but unfortunately they can’t be printed! Stick to pens and pencils.

5. Find your inner artist! Budding artist and One Direction member Zayn can show you how to improve your drawing skills and who knows, you could turn in to a future Picasso!

6. Bust a rhyme! We’d love to read some creative verses inside our Christmas cards. It doesn’t have to rhyme just let us know what Christmas means to you in your own words.

7. If you’re still struggling for inspiration, watch out for tips from celebrities and artists alike all this week, including those from Art Attack’s Neil Buchanan!

8. Finally, to make sure your entry is included, don’t forget to check the entry requirements and terms and conditions, on the Daybreak website.

 We look forward to seeing all your Art Stars entries!

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Daybreak and Hallmark Cards call out for young ‘Art Stars’

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Win the chance to get your designs printed and sold online and in stores!

 

Are you a budding artist between the ages of 7 and 14? Have you got a young son, daughter or relative who loves to get creative? If so, then this is the competition you’ve all been waiting for!

In association with Hallmark Cards, ITV’s  Daybreak are calling for talented young artists to get creative and design a Christmas card with a verse or greeting inside based on the theme, “What Christmas means to me”. Children across the UK are being given a unique opportunity to have their festive designs turned into a real card then sold nationwide through Hallmark.co.uk and Hallmark stores.

TV star Joe Swash launched the competition on this morning’s Daybreak, and with great clips and tips from celebrities, and artists alike, the search is on to find Britain’s best Christmas card designs. Check out budding artist and One Direction member, Zayn with his Art Stars master class!

Still stuck for inspiration? Why not take a look at our  Christmas cards on sale now? And don’t forget to keep checking back to our blog as we’ll be sharing our tips on how to create the perfect greeting card with a little help from our friend, Purple Ronnie!

The Art Stars competition opens today and will close for judging at 8pm on the 17th October. The winning design will be announced on Daybreak in November and will be printed by Hallmark Cards then sold nationwide in time for Christmas. So, with one week to make a mantle masterpiece, don’t waste any time, simply visit Daybreak and follow the instructions to enter.

For entry conditions and T&C’s click here

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Emma’s top 5 Christmas cards for this year

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Have you ever thought that with all the different Christmas cards out there and the massive amount of choice, it’s practically impossible to choose one without a big hassle?!

Well, don’t despair as our resident card writer, Emma Bragg, has provided you with her ‘Top 5’ cards to make everyone smile this Christmas.

Plus, with 3 for 2 on personalised Christmas at the moment, we’re making it even easier to spread a bit of festive cheer!

This special Forever Friends card is just right to show Mum and dad that you care. Don’t worry, it’s not just for mum and dad, we’ve also got a cute card for everyone in our Seasonal range.

This beautiful card is part of our exclusive designer range of cards and is printed on luxury pearlised board, making it the ultimate choice for any fashion conscious loved ones.

Fancy yourself as a joker? – We reckon this card from our funny range of Christmas cards would get a chuckle from jolly St.Nick.

Simple and elegant – Wish someone Happy Christmas from your family in style.

The perfect card for your Big Sister  – lovely and girly!

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Little Angels or Cheeky Elves?

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Have you seen our latest TV advert?!

It features these four little mischief makers that magically turn in to little angels for their Grandma! Their mum finds the perfect personalised Christmas card for them to give to their Grandma from Hallmark.co.uk!

Luckily, our festive personalised cards just like this one, are also now on offer at 3 for 2! So take this chance to angel your own cheeky elves for Christmas and send them to Mum, Dad, Grandma and Grandad!

In the meantime, here’s a little peak at some behind the scenes photos from our ‘Little Angels’ advert.

What’s your verdict, ‘Little Angels’ or are they actually ‘Cheeky Elves’?

Is it just us or does it seem like the middle angel is plotting something?

The boys looking extremely cute and well behaved. But wait for it…….

LITTLE MONSTERS!

Hopefully some bouncing around will wear them out………….

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Twas the Night Before Christmas…Narrated by You – Hallmark Recordable Storybook

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Are you sick and tired of giving your loved ones the same kind of presents every year? Well if socks, scarves and chocolates don’t cut the mustard then we could very well have the solution!

We’ve turned Clement C Moore’s timeless classic ‘The Night Before Christmas’ into a recordable storybook – making it a truly special keepsake that can be treasured for years to come.

The book is the ultimate festive treat for Christmas that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike this year and for years to come. It’s the perfect gift for mummy’s or daddies, grandparents, aunties, uncles or friends that are near or far this Christmas.

The lovely, hand illustrated book allows you to record your very own version of the classic Christmas story; each time the reader turns the page, they will hear your voice!

And we’re not the only ones that think it’s great…

‘Everyone knows ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’ and if you thought it couldn’t get better – you’d be wrong.’– That’s Christmas

‘From the opening sentence this story beautifully captures the anticipation of Christmas Eve, and now with this version, you or a grandparent can read the poem to keep as a special memento for years to come’ – Junior Magazine

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Christmas is here but we are celebrating those forgotten birthdays

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

We love Christmas here at Hallmark. But we know how annoying it can be if you’ve got a birthday over the festive period that everyone seems to forget about!

Well each Wednesday we’ll be putting a Twitter and Facebook call out to anyone who’s got one of these ‘forgotten’ birthdays, like singer Dido (24th Dec) or actress Sienna Miller (28th Dec). We want to hear your sob stories; perhaps you only get one set of presents, do you get turkey leftovers for your birthday tea, maybe your friends forgot about your special day all together!

The best sob story each week will win a great set of Hallmark birthday party invites, meaning people will really have no excuse for not turning up!

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Are you on Santa’s naughty list?

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Confess to Hallmark and make sure Santa visits!

Ever wondered  why you don’t get as many Christmas presents as you used to? We’ve given it some thought and we think it’s because Santa doesn’t tend to visit people who have been a bit naughty, which is a problem, as most of us have been at some point!

So, this Christmas we decided to give you the opportunity to confess all the naughty  things  you’ve  ever got away with to help you secure your place on the ‘nice list’ and make sure Santa visits!

Here’s how it will work. From today all you need to do is “confess” to Hallmark via our  Twitter confession  booth.  Just  @HallmarkUK with your confession using the hash tag #XmasConfession. We’ll  be  publishing our favourite confessions in Hallmark’s ultimate naughty list in December, with the overall winner receiving Hallmark’s ultimate Santa stocking, worth £250.

And for everyone who has redeemed themselves by confessing, we’ll give you a special money off ‘redemption’ voucher to use on our site as well as turning you into a Hallmark angel on our Facebook page!

Here’s a couple of confessions to get you started:

  • I hid my sister’s doll, and then the dog ate it. She never found out! #Xmasconfession
  • I spilt red wine on my friends white carpet and blamed it on a friend #Xmasconfession

For full entry details see ‘comments’ below.

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Confess to Hallmark and win a £250 Christmas stocking!

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

This Christmas, we’ve decided to give you the opportunity to confess all the naughty things you’ve ever got away with to help you secure your place on the ‘nice list’ and make sure Santa visits!

All you need to do is visit our special confession booth which will be open from Monday 15th November until 7th December. The best confession will win a great Hallmark stocking stuffed with the latest gadgets, worth £250. And everyone who has redeemed themselves by confessing will also get a special money off ‘redemption’ voucher to use on our site.

Full details will be announced on Monday….so watch this space!

Image used under Creative Commons on behalf of electric counterpoint

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I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day…

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Christmas comes but once a year…or so you’d think. Here at Hallmark it’s Christmas every day! Since January we’ve been like Santa’s busy little elves working on wonderful Christmas cards and now it’s almost time for the real thing we’re really getting in the Christmas mood! Working with Christmas every day doesn’t mean we don’t still get excited for December 25th. It’ll be here before we know it and we already can’t wait!

Our very talented artists, illustrators and designers have been full of the Christmas spirit all year and have been creating images of snowmen, robins and Santa for our fantastic Christmas cards. From snowy landscapes to cute bears in santa hats, and from nativity scenes to festive funnies, there’s something for everyone.

And our very clever writers have been inspired by Christmas carols, stories and songs while they produce the wonderful words and verses which will be placed inside each card. Be it long, short, verse or prose. From a simple Christmas wish to a sincere and heartfelt message, Hallmark’s Christmas cards have got it all.

At hallmark.co.uk we have a huge selection of personalised Christmas Cards. Each card gives you the opportunity to be really creative and make a truly unique and unforgettable card. You can create a very memorable personalised Christmas card by uploading photos, adding names and changing the words. It’ll be sure to make it onto the mantelpiece! We especially love our funny face upload cards where you can add someone’s face onto the body of a reindeer, a Christmas fairy or even a penguin! And not forgetting the Christmas Angel cards as seen on TV…how many angels have you got?

Some people like to use their Christmas Greetings as a great way to keep in touch and update everyone about their family news from the year. You could add a family newsletter to the inside of a Christmas card, order lots of copies and send one to everyone! It’s cheaper that way too, as the more you buy, the more you save with our Multi Buy Christmas Card service and you only need to order the exact amount that you need – so no leftovers!

So this year, once the leftover turkey’s been guzzled, the crackers have been pulled and the mulled wine’s been glugged, spare a thought for the Hallmark elves who’ll be busy once again in the Christmas card workshop, beavering away on cards for Christmas 2011!

Image used under Creative Commons on behalf of kelp1966

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